Until the recent attack by the radical Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, a very different enclave – the West Bank – was a more serious source of friction between Israelis and Palestinians. With the outbreak of hostilities, events in the West Bank took a backseat, but the confrontation between the two warring nations is raging in these lands, and not only the Israeli army is involved in it. KP.RU analyzed how Jewish settlers occupy Palestinian lands and why this problem is an obstacle to the creation of an independent Palestine.
What is the West Bank?
The West Bank of the Jordan River (WBRI), together with the Gaza Strip, is the territory in which the creation of an independent Palestine is proposed. During the Arab-Israeli war of 1947-1949, these lands were captured by Jordan and the Jews living there were expelled. However, in 1967, as a result of the Six-Day War, Israel gained control over the West Bank, which it still retains de facto. Many Israelis considered the victory in the war as a sign that the Jews were destined to reclaim the territories of ancient Judea and Samaria, where their people’s history began. Since then, the number of Israeli settlers in the ZBRI has been growing steadily, and any political discussion about the ownership of these lands inevitably depends on the Israeli presence there.
In 1993, following the signing of the Oslo peace accords, agreements were reached to create a state for the Palestinians under the leadership of the newly formed Palestinian Authority (PNA). The West Bank was divided into three administrative zones: in the smaller but more densely populated zone A, the ANP has nominal political and military control, in zone B, local authorities handle civil affairs and provide security alongside Israel. , and in the larger area C (approximately 60% of the ZBRI) is under full Israeli control.
Who are the Israeli settlers?
About 20% of the West Bank population are Israeli settlers. Most of them live in zone C, where water and mineral resources are concentrated, as well as the land most suitable for agriculture. Following the construction by Israel in 2003 of a 700 kilometer wall and 140 checkpoints in the ZBRZ, which restrict the movement of Palestinians, the latter are forced to obtain and periodically renew permits to access these lands, which may be denied without explanation.
With the signing of the agreements in 1993, Israel officially stopped building new settlements, but the existing ones, of which there are about 150, continue to grow: during this time, the number of Jews in the ZBRI has tripled. According to the UN, which considers Israeli settlements an occupation, there are currently around 700,000 Israeli settlers (10% of Israel’s population) living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. More than 3 million Palestinians, according to human rights groups, live under Israeli apartheid.
There are several reasons for this rapid relocation. Some Israelis believe settlements in the West Bank provide protection against possible attacks. Others pursue religious and national motives. In the lands of ancient Judea and Samaria, including, there are several shrines: the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the city of Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, and the tomb of Joseph in Nablus. Radical settlers deliberately occupy territories to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state.
Jews in the West Bank also have economic reasons: cheap housing and government subsidies. By the way, the Tel Aviv official strongly supports the colonization of Palestinian lands, financing settlers, developing infrastructure and generously issuing construction permits in the West Bank. At the same time, Israeli authorities regularly confiscate and demolish Palestinian property, citing a lack of necessary documents.
However, a part of Israeli society is confident that the expansion of settlements is detrimental to the country’s interests, since it makes it almost impossible to “create two states” and therefore achieve peace in Israel itself. When former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo was asked if the settlements could act as a protective buffer, he told Politico: “Nonsense! They do not protect us: we are obliged to protect them.”
Climbing in the West Bank in 2023
Under Israel’s current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, settlements in the ZBRZ are growing at an unprecedented rate. Former US President Donald Trump also helped give a boost to the settlers, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in 2017. In 2023 alone, the new coalition government approved the construction of some 13,000 new buildings in the West Bank. In June, to accelerate the pace of construction, the Cabinet transferred this issue, granting broad powers, to the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who advocates the annexation of the enclave.
This rapid expansion of settlers, who enjoy unprecedented levels of support from Netanyahu’s government, is fueling a rise in violence in the West Bank. Even before the fighting began, 2023 was the deadliest year in recent memory. In February, following a terrorist attack that left two Israelis dead, Jews carried out pogroms in the town of Huwara, setting fire to dozens of houses and cars, injuring more than 300 Palestinians. And in April, after a series of clashes near the walls of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli police stormed one of the main Muslim shrines and brutally dispersed Palestinians who had gathered there. Hamas leaders later cited these events as one of the reasons for their surprisingly brutal attack on Israel.
In addition to the fighting in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army carries out attacks and raids in search of radicals in the West Bank. The settlers, encouraged by impunity, commit lynchings. The average number of attacks against Palestinian residents in the ZBRZ has doubled since October 7. The UN has recorded around 250 similar settler attacks. The attacks are instigated by far-right politicians. Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his radical statements, has called for the IDF’s punitive operation to be extended to Palestinian settlements in the West Bank, saying that the Palestinian Authority does not differ in its views. of Hamas. At their urging, Israel’s “civilians” were also granted tens of thousands of permits to carry weapons.
The international community is against
In 1979, the UN Security Council, in a corresponding resolution, called the settlements illegal and declared that they represented “a serious obstacle to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” In 2004, the International Court of Justice confirmed that the lands of the West Bank belong to the Palestinian state and are under Israeli military occupation. In 2013, two-thirds of UN member countries recognized Palestine and the ZBRI as a key territory for this Arab state.
Since the outbreak of the current armed conflict, US President Joe Biden has warned that West Bank settlers are “pouring gasoline on the fire” in the Middle East by carrying out brutal attacks against Palestinians. The EU also strongly condemned the increasing attacks and called what was happening “settler terrorism.” The other day, Politico reported that Biden even ordered the preparation of sanctions against settlers who oppress Palestinians.
Israel categorically rejects such claims and emphasizes that Judean tribes lived west of the Jordan since the 12th century BC Netanyahu recently said that Israeli settlements are not an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
However, Israel still has experience in withdrawing its settlements from disputed territories. In 1989, Jewish settlers completely abandoned the Sinai as part of a peace agreement with Egypt. In 2005, the Israelis abandoned all their settlements in Gaza and some in the West Bank.
Expert commentary
Settlements on disputed land must be demolished or resolved on the basis of a compromise
RIAC expert and PIR Center consultant Leonid Tsukanov responded to KP.RU’s questions about Israeli settlers:
— Why, despite criticism and pressure from the international community, does Israel continue to populate disputed territories?
“The key argument of the Israelis is that the West Bank has been inhabited by Jews for thousands of years. Furthermore, Israel responds with the fact that Jordan’s “short-term” power over the ZBRI was not recognized by the majority of the world’s states, which together gave the Israelis the right to consider these territories as their own and develop them fully. With a far-right coalition government coming to power in 2022, expanding its presence in the West Bank became one of the key slogans, in part because the government needed “new high-profile victories.”
—What role do far-right Israeli politicians play in the resettlement and occupation?
— In the western territories of Jordan is the “cradle” of the Jewish people: the historical regions of Judea and Samaria. Therefore, the expansion of the Israeli presence in these lands is presented as “restoration of historical justice.” Furthermore, the quantitative factor also plays a role: given that up to half a million people live in the settlements, excluding semi-legal settlers, supporting their claims is a good investment in one’s own “political weight.” For far-right politicians, this is, above all, an opportunity to “score points” in the fight for influence.
On the other hand, the Israeli establishment understands the danger of flirting excessively with the radical public: by crossing the conventional line, the country risks not only further destabilization, but also breaking with regional partners, for example, with Jordan and Egypt. relationships with those who are already going through a difficult period. For this reason, the Israelis to the end tried to carry out the expansion gradually, taking into account, as far as possible, in the context of a protracted crisis, Palestinian interests.
This is also seen in the example of the “war cabinet” that was formed after the notorious Hamas attack. The same Minister of National Security Ben-Gvir, known for his anti-Palestinian attacks and his harsh “settler” stance, was not included in its composition, partly so as not to aggravate the already critical situation.
—What could be the solution to the issue of disputed agreements, taking into account the current conflict?
“The most obvious solution, at first glance, would be to follow the spirit of the Oslo Accords and work systematically to create two full-fledged neighboring states: Israel and Palestine, under the control of moderate politicians. Existing settlements in the disputed territories must be demolished or settled on the basis of a compromise.
This option suits the vast majority of external actors, including Russia and the United States, but does not suit Israel, which sees a consolidated Palestinian community as a challenge to national security. Furthermore, as various sectors of public opinion show, Palestinians – both in Gaza and ZBI – largely perceive the Israelis as a systemic threat and fear further escalation. In this context, dialogue on the same terms is difficult.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS